Speed control device



Feb. 4, 11. Ffw. BUSH SPEED CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 4, 1941. F. w. BUSH SPEED CONTROL DEVICE Feb. 4, 1941. w, BUSH 2,230,742

srm-zn common nEvIcs Filed Npv. 10,1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 T| AMA 62 t IIIIII meted. Feb. '4, 19 1 UNITED. STATES PATENT orrrca 'srnno 03 x31 Dav es 1 Floyd W. Bush, Wwhinm i, v hpnlicationlliloovcelzl: 102 1W0. 110,171

This invention relates to an automatic speed control device for internal combustion engines, the principal object of the invention being to control the flow of gasoline to the carburetor, by the 5 elimination of the use of the accelerator or hand throttle control. In thisrespect the device functions as a constant spe d device, butthe invention further provides where y such constant speed may be varied at any time by the operator. This can be done by depressing the accelerator pedal to increase the rate of speed, or by depressing the brake pedal to decreasethe rate of speed. Thus the operator has full control of his vehicle, since the speed can be varied at any time he desires.

One purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the constant use of the foot to control the speed of the car upon long drives.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a brake control which will tend to release the speed device upon depressing the brake pedal on rounding curves or upon reducing speed in overtaking traiflc.

A further purpose of the invention is to keep the ing grades.

, The foregoing and other purposes of the invention areobtained in the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below.

Figure 1 is an elevation of an internal combustion engine with the speed control device attached in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation, parts broken away of the usual speedometer with the speed indicator control attached.

Figure 3 is the front view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear view of Figure 2, taken substantially along line 6-.4.

Figure5 is a detailed view of float valve? shown Figure 6 is a'detailed view of brake control valve 3| and operator 45in operation.

Figure 7, is a detailed view of brake control valve 3| and operator 45 showing the operation of the valve and operator upon the depressing of the brake pedal.

Figure 8 is a detailed view of a modified construction.

Figure 9 is a detailed section of the valve shown in Figure 8. v

Fig. 10 is a side view of double disc I4, showing grooves]! and I3 and slanted section IS.

The preferred form of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, by use of like characters 55 which are employed to designate corresponding speed constant either upon ascending or descendparts' throughout, is hereinafter described and claimed. I Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates an internal combustion engine with the usual carburetor 2 having the conventional throt- 5 tle or butterfly valve 200' and speedometer 3. Suitably attached to the underbody'of an automobile by means not shown or described is a storage tank 4 which may be filled with air under pressure from the usual free air hose or from a 10 small compressor which may be attached to the motor and connected to the motor fan belt, not shown. Copper tubing 5 connects the principal elements of the invention; inserted in the tubing below the dash board is a pet cock 6 which can be used to shut off the air from the supply tank when the device is not in operation. Float valve 7 is controlled by a lever 8 with a small wheel 9 inserted in the forked end 50 thereof, running freely on shaft ll. Wheel 9 is adapted torun in the grooves l2 and I3 of a double disc M having thereon a slanted portion l5 which is adapted to control the inflow of air to the float valve 1 when indicator it is set to any desired speed by means of knob n, which is held in place on shaft l8 by means of set screw I9. Shaft I8 is held in place by friction in sleeve 20 which is set in the usual control board 2I, which is common to all automobiles. Shait it has a bevelled gear 22 attached thereto, which in turn meshes with gear 23 which isattached to a solid shaft 24, upon which is attached indicator l6. Shaft 24 has a cone clutch 25 which is adapted to mesh with hollow shaft 26 uponwhich is mounted the usual speedometer hand 21 of the speedometer 3. Cone clutch 25 and hollow shafti2 6 are kept in contact by pressure of spring 28 which is in turn held in place on shaft 26 by a washer 29 and a pin 30 which is inserted in shaft 24. Float valve 1 is connected to the brake controlled valve 31 by means of the copper tubing 5. Plunger knob 32 is adapted to be contacted by the usual brake pedal 33. Plunger knob 32 is'held in open position by spring 34 which is in turn held in place by washer 35. Plunger knob 32 is mounted on shaft 36 at one end. The other end of shaft 36 functions as a slide valve 3], which has duct 38 therein which is adapted to coincide with the inlet 39 and outlet 40 to which is connected copper tubing 5, or with the bleed outlet 4|, which bleeds to the atmosphere. Brake control valve 3| is closed at one end by plate 42 which is secured in place by two bolts and nuts 43 and 44 respectively. From brake control valve 3|, copper tubing 5 extends to operator 45 which has a spring pressed plunger 46 therein .to which is attached shaft 41 having upturned portion 48 adapted to contact a stop 49 which is held in place on the 'throttle control rod 59 by a small set screw 5|.

Operator is closed at one end by a plate 52' held in place by bolts and nuts 53 and 54 respectively. 'I'he device is controlled by float valve I through lever 8 which is kept in closed position by means of spring 55 held in place on lever B by washer 56 and pin 51. Lever 8 has flattened end portion 58 which has ratchet teeth 59 formed thereon and port 69 situated therein, said port being adapted to coincide with the inlet 6| at the end of air duct 62 through which the air flows from copper tubing 5 into chamber 63 in which is located a slide valve 64, which is held in'position by a spring 65 which is in turn held in place by upraised portion 66. Slide valve 64 is stopped when it, moves to the right in the chamber 68 by stops 61. Casing 68 has bleed outlet 59 which allows the air to bleed to the atmosphere when the device is not in operation. Ratchet teeth 59 are in turn contacted by ratchet 19 which is on the end of shaft II upon which is mounted bleed valve 12 which seats upon valve seat I4 which also allows the air under pressure to bleed to the atmosphere through outlet I3, thus allowing slide valve 64 to return to its normal position. When air enters chamber 68 it leaves by means of outlet I5 entering chamber," forcing valve 11 open, allowing air to enter chamber 63 and outlet I8 into copper tubing 5. -Valve 11 is held in place by guide I9 and is held normally closed by. spring 89 which is held in place on shaft 8| by means of spring 99 which is set between washers 83 and 84. Washer'84 is held onto shaft 8| by means of pin 85 and valve 'I'I seats on .valve seat 86.

The modification shown in Figure 8 is operated from the usual intake on the internal combustion I engine by copper tubing 5, which is connected to and enters chamber 81 of float valve I. The float valve 1 is also controlled by lever 8 contacting double disc I4, lever 8 having flattened portion 58 and ratchet teeth 59 which are contacted by ratchet III on shaft II. Slide valve 88 is balanced between two flexible springs 89 and 99respectively in chamber 9|. Slide valve 88 has cam members '92 on the top and lower surfaces. Said cam members are adapted to contact projections 88 and 94 on spring valves 95 and 86 which lead into outlets 91. and 98, through whichair passes into and out of chamber 9|. Air is allowed to bleed through bleed valve 99 and valve seat I99 to control the rise and fall of slide valve 88 in' chamber 9|. Spring valves 95 and 96 are controlled by springs IM and loz-respectively, said springs being retained on shafts I93 and I94 by washers I95 and I96 and pins I91 and I98. The float valve is in two parts and is held together by bolts and nuts I99 and H9. 'Tc outlet III is connected copper tubing 5, which leads to outlet- I I2 of,plunger valve chamber I I8, having a spring pressed plunger 4 therein connected to shaft 5 which has a spring'I'IB which controls plunger II4.

Chamber 3 has slanted. portion III therein, which prevents the plunger 4 from completely closingthe outlet II I. a

To operate the device, knob I1 is pulled forward by the operator. This action pulls forward gear 22, which in turn by means of bevelled gears pushes or pulls gear 28 forward, releasing the indicator I5, allowing the device to be set at the desired speed by the knob II. This setting is accomplished by placing the speed desired on the indicator I6 beneath or behind thespeedometer aeaogrea' hand 21. While the desired speed is being set on the speedometer from 9" on groove i3), wheel 9 is travelling over the slanted portion l5 and is forcing lever 8 downward; allowing port 69 to coincide with the inlet'IiI allowing air under pressure to enter from storage tank 4 into chamber 63, forcing float valve 64 to the right allowing v.air flow out of outlet 15 through chamber '56 59 by means of upturned portion 48 contacting stop 49 thereby moving stop 49 forward until the speed at which the operator has set his indicator is reached. If, after indicator I8 is set at the desired speed, the speedometer hand 21 drops below the set speed wheel 9 will travel along groove I2 on the larger side of disc I4, and by thus keeping port 69 coinciding with inlet 6| air passes through the system to operator 45 and acts upon throttle valve 59 as above described. When the speedometer hand 21 reaches the set speed, wheel 9 again travels over slanted portion of disc I4 toward the smaller side of disc and if the speedometer hand 21 goes above the set speed wheel 9 passes into groove I8 and runs along this groove thus permitting portion of lever 8 to completely shut off the air from inlet 6| relieving pressure in operator 45 which allows throttle valve 59 to shutoff the flow of gas by the operation of a spring in'the usual manner. Upondepressing brake pedal 88 which contacts plunger knob 82 46 to return and the speed of the car to reduce.

Upon the release of brake pedal 33, the pressure is again allowed to force the plunger 46 forward. 1

thus opening the speed.

The modification is constructed so that the device may be attached to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The device is set in thesame manner for the desired speed as previously described. When the lever-8 is forced to the left, suction is created through the tubing 5 drawing valve 88 upward, thus creating a vacuum in plunger valve chamber 3, thereby pulling plunger I I4 downward performing the same action as previously described. In' the event there is throttle valve to the desired too much air in chamber 3 or in copper tubing 5, it will be drawn out by the valve 88 rising t its full height and opening spring valve 95 to permit this air to pass out. Because of this valve 95 air cannot pass back into the chamber below. If too much air is withdrawn the valve, 88 will return to the lower end of the chamber to permit air to pass into the chambei' H8. The valve 88 prevents air fromflowing backward through this duct so that when intake begins to create a vacuum by means of suction through the inlet 89, the valve 88 will again move upward creating a vacuum in chamber H8. Valve 88 is balanced between two .very flexible coil springs in the middle of the chamber 9|. While this type of the device might not be as smooth working as the type operated by pressure, this modification indicates that the device may be operated by suction fromthe intake manifold as well as by airunder pressure from a storage tank. Flattened portion I5 is slanted in such a manner that if the automobile starts to decrease its speed such as in climbing a hill, lever 8 will allow more air to enter or a greater suction to be created, and the speed will thus be main locomotives, other types of engines used for locomotion, or machinery where constant speed may be an essential or desirable factor wherever air a under pressure or suction isavailable.

Modifications of the invention other than those suggested here may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims. V

2o Having thus described my inventiomI claim:

1. A speed device in combination with an in-,

ternal combustion engine, said speed device being operated by air under pressure'with means for containing a supply of said air, and with means for maintaining said internal combustion engine.-

at any desired rate of speed, and means for selecting said rate oi speed.

2. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, a float valve for mainso. taining said internal combustion engine at any desired rate of speed, a brake valve for controlling said speed device, nd means for selecting said rate of speed, saidmeans being attached to the shaft of the usual speedometer. 3g 3. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, a floatvalve said float valve adapted to maintain the internal combustion engine at any desired speed, a brake valve, said brake valve beingadapted to be contacted 4) by the brake pedal, an operator having means adapted to contact the throttle valve rod of the usual carburetor, and means for selecting any desired rate of speed.

4. A sped .device in combination with an in ternal combustion engine said device having a float valve, a brake controlled valve, a slide valve and means for setting the device at any desired speed. said means attached to the usual speedometer.

5d 5. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said speed device comprising a float valve, a brake controlled valve, an operator, a spring pressed plunger in said operator, said plunger having anupturned portion said upturned portion adapted to contact and control the usual throttle rod, said device being operated by air under pressure.

6. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said device comprising 0 a float valve, a brake controlled valve, an operator, a spring pressed plunger in said operator, said plunger having an upturned portion, said upturned portion adapted to contact and control the usual throttle rod, and means for-setting the de as vice at any desired speed, said means attached to the usual speedometer.

7. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a float valve, said float valve comprising means which is adapted to be contacted by a double disc,

said disc mounted on a shaft connected to an indicator, said indicator being adapted to set the device at any desired rate of speed.

- 8. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said device being operbustion engine at any desired rate of v float valve adapted to be controlled by a e asserts 3 ated by auction; said device comprising-a float valve for maintaining said internal combustion engine at any desired rate oi speed and an indicator attached to the speedometer for setting said device at any desired rate of speed. vii

9. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine,'s aid device being operated by suction, said device comprising a float valve for maintaining said internal combustion engine at any desire: rate of speed, a brake control 10 valve adapted to be contacted by the usual brake pedal and an indicator attached to the speed-' ometer for setting the device at any desired rate of speed.

- 10. A speed device in combination with an in- 15 ternal combustion enginasaid device being operated by suction, said device comprising a float valve formaintaining said internal combustion 1 engine at any desir ed rate or speed, a brake control valve adapted to be contacted by the usual I brake pedal, an operator having a spring pressed plunger therein, and in indicator attached to the speedometer for setting said device at any desired rate'of speed.

11. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said device comp a float valve adapted to maintain said internal combustion engine at any desired rate of said float valve controlled by a slide valve, said slide valve adapted to contact adouble disk, said double disk mounted on a shaft, said shaft having an indicator mounted thereon, said indicator adapted to set the device at any desired rate of d. a i. 12. A speed device in combination with an in- 88 ternai combustion e, said device 1r a float valve for maintaining the internal comsaid valve, said slide valve having ratchet teeth thereon, said ratchet teeth being adapted to be contacted by a dog mounted on a bleed valve.

13. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said device com a float valve adapted to control the of said internal combustion engine, a brake valve, d brake valve'comprising a slide valve, said slide valve adapted to be contacted by the usual b pedal, an operator, said operator having a spring pressed plunger therein, said spring plunger having an upturned portion, said upturned portionadapt'ed to contact a stop mounted on the throttle rod of the carburetor, and an indicator, said indicator being adapted to set the speed device at any desired rate oi speed.

it. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a float valve, said float valve adapted to maintain the d of said internal combustionengine, a brake valve, said brake valve comprising a slide valve adapted to be contacted by the usual brake pedal, an operator, said operator having a spring pressed plunger therein, said spring pressed plunger having an upturned portion thereon, said upturned portion adapted to contact a stop 03 mounted on the throttle valve, an indicator, said indicator mounted on oneend of a shaft, said shaft having mounted on the other end thereof a double disk, said double disk adapted to be rotated by means of bevelled gears, said bevelled 7 gears adapted tobe rotated by a knob mounted on the dash board.

15. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a float valve, said float valve adapted to maintain 7| brake valve, said brake valve comprising a slide valve adapted to be contacted by the usual brake pedal, an operator, said operator having a spring pressed plunger therein, said spring pr plunger having an upturned portion thereon, said upturned portion adapted 'to contact a stop mounted on the throttle valve, an indicator, said indicator mounted on one end of a shaft, said shaft having mounted on the other end thereof a double disk, said double disk adapted to be rotated by means of bevelled gears, said bevelled gears adapted to he rotated by a knob mounted on the dash board, said device being adapted to be operated by suction obtained from a connection to the intake manifold of said internal combustion engine.

16. A speed device in combination with an in= ternal combustion engine, said speed device being operated by air under pressure with means for maintaining and for selecting any desired rate of speed, with means for containing a supply of said air, said air under pressure being adapted to be controlled by means contacted by the usual foot brake pedal.

I s eaves the speed offseid internal combustion e, a

17. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said speed device having means for maintaining said combustion engine at any desired rate of speed, means connected to the shaft ofthe usual speedometer for selecting the desired speed, and means for disconnecting said selecting means from the shaft.

18. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine comprising means for controlling the speed ofsaid internal combustion engine through the throttle valve, means attached to the shaft of the usual speedometer for select--' ing any desired speed, and means associated therewith for releasing said selecting means from the shaft.

19. A speed device in combination with an internal combustion engine, said device being operated by suction and comprising means for maintaining said internal combustion engine at any desired rate of speed, means for setting said device at any desired rate of speed, said last said means being attached to the shaft of theusual speedometer, and means associated therewith to release said setting means from the shaft.

FLOYD W. BUSH. 

